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Lightning Deaths 1998-2008
The National Weather Service publication
Storm Data recorded a total of 449 deaths from lightning strikes
between 1998 and 2008. According to the National Weather Service,
lightning causes an average of 62 deaths and 300 injuries in the United
States each year.
During a thunderstorm, avoid open spaces, trees,
telephone booths, and ballparks. The safest place to be is in a building,
preferably one with a lightning rod. The rod offers protection by
intercepting lightning—an electrical charge—and transmitting
its current into the ground. The other safe place is a car with the
windows rolled up, as long as you don't touch any of the metal parts. If
lightning strikes, the car's metal body will conduct the charge down to
the ground—contrary to popular belief, the rubber of the wheels
offers no protection.
Reported Lightning Deaths Per
State, 1998–2008
| Rank |
State |
Number of
deaths |
Rank |
State |
Number of
deaths |
| 1. |
Florida |
74 |
27. |
Oklahoma |
6 |
| 2. |
Texas |
28 |
28. |
Wisconsin |
6 |
| 3. |
Colorado |
27 |
29. |
Wyoming |
6 |
| 4. |
Georgia |
23 |
30. |
Iowa |
4 |
| 5. |
North Carolina |
19 |
31. |
Kansas |
4 |
| 6. |
Alabama |
16 |
32. |
Maine |
3 |
| 7. |
Louisiana |
16 |
33. |
Minnesota |
3 |
| 8. |
South Carolina |
15 |
34. |
Nebraska |
3 |
| 9. |
Ohio |
15 |
35. |
Puerto Rico |
3 |
| 10. |
Tennessee |
13 |
36. |
Rhode Island |
3 |
| 11. |
Pennsylvania |
13 |
37. |
South Dakota |
3 |
| 12. |
Illinois |
11 |
38. |
Massachusetts |
3 |
| 13. |
Michigan |
11 |
39. |
Vermont |
2 |
| 14. |
Mississippi |
11 |
40. |
Idaho |
1 |
| 15. |
Utah |
11 |
41. |
Nevada |
1 |
| 16. |
New Jersey |
10 |
42. |
New Mexico |
1 |
| 17. |
Missouri |
9 |
43. |
West Virginia |
1 |
| 18. |
Virginia |
9 |
44. |
Connecticut |
1 |
| 19. |
Arizona |
8 |
45. |
Alaska |
0 |
| 20. |
Arkansas |
9 |
46. |
D.C. |
0 |
| 21. |
Kentucky |
8 |
47. |
Delaware |
0 |
| 22. |
New York |
8 |
48. |
Hawaii |
0 |
| 23. |
California |
7 |
49. |
New Hampshire |
0 |
| 24. |
Maryland |
7 |
50. |
North Dakota |
0 |
| 25. |
Indiana |
6 |
51. |
Oregon |
0 |
| 26. |
Montana |
6 |
51. |
Washington |
0 |
Source: National Severe Storms Laboratory,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Information Please® Database, © 2008 Pearson
Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
More on Lightning Deaths 1998-2008 from Infoplease:
- Lightning Deaths 1998-2008 - Lightning Deaths 1998-2008 The National Weather Service publication Storm Data recorded a total of ...
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